Tensioning device for shuttles.



D. H. CLARK.

TENSlONING DEVICE FOR SHUTTLBS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20.19%.

Patented 0st. 6, 1914:.

Elvwentoz D. H .C L A R K Wbimeooeo a .fllif Gum/M1 UNITED STATES DAVID H. CLARK, 0F GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA.

\ 'rnnsrolvmeinnv rcn Eon. SHUTTLES.

To allwohom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, DAVID H.'CLARK, a. citizen of the- United States, residing at Greensboro, in the county of Guilfofd and State of North Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in TensioningDevices for Shuttles, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings. a

This invention relates to an improved tensioning device for thread shuttles, and has for its primary object to provide extremely simple, as well as highly durable and efficient adjustable tensioning means for the thread filling which will admit of the thread being readily paid out from the bobbin or cop, but places a uniform tension upon the same so as'to obviate kinks in the cloth.

The invention has for another object to provide a device of the above character having asits essential characteristic a loop of resilient wire arranged in the shuttle throat contiguous to the tubular shuttle eye, andexteriorly accessible means for adjusting the tension or pressure of said spring wire upon the filling.

The invention has for one of its more specific objects to provide a tension spring of peculiar formation which is not liable to be displaced or distorted and will exert at all times a uniform tension upon the filling thread as it unwinds from the bobbin or cop.

lVith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter referred to and more particularly pointed out in the specification and claims.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which I,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a thread shuttle of common construction to which my invention is applied. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 22 of Fig. l'showing the spring wire tensioning device raised to permit of the free movement of the thread through the shuttle eye. Fig. 3 is a similar 'view showing the tensioning v Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 6, 1914.

Application filed June 20, 1914. Serial No. 846,357.

wire down upon the thread. i Fig. 4 is a by the picker-stick. The open side of the shuttle bod-y shown at 7 has a spindle 8 mounted in one end thereof to receive the bobbin or cop indicated at 9. This spindle .is pivotally mounted in the shuttle body and suitable looking or holding means is pro- .vided to cooperate with the bobbin and hold the same upon the spindle against longitudinal movement during the operation of the machine. This locking device constitutes no part of the present invention and may be of any approved type now in general, use. At the opposite end of the shuttle body from that in which the bobbin spindle 9'is' mounted, a substantially circular recess 10 is formed which communicates with the bobbin receiving chamber of the shuttle.

This recess, however, is of-less depth than the bobbin chamber and in the base thereof at the outer side of the recess, the hollow tubular shuttle eye 11 is rotatably mounted.

This shuttle eye is of .the usual construc-.

tion,- and is adapted to receive the filling thread which is engaged in an obliquely inclined thread receiving kerf 12 formed in the body of the shuttle and by which the thread is directed through a longitudinally extending slot in one side of .the shuttle eye to the interior thereof. It is, of course, understood that -'the body of the shuttle is provided with an opening in one side whereby a suitable implement may be engaged with one end of the eye to turn. the same after the thread has been disposed therein.

The above described features of the shuttle are all commonlyknown in the art, and will not be further specifically referred to.

My improved .tensioning device for the: filling includes a length of spring wire gen-' erally indicated by the numeral 14. This,

wire is bent at one end to form a wide open loop, one arm of which. as indicated at 15 is slightly. curved and is adapted for engagement at its extremity in a recess or socket 16 formed in one side of the wall of the recess 10. The other arm 17 of said loop is straight, and is adapted to normally rest upon the base of said recess. From this latter loop arm, the wire is reversely bent as at 18 and then extended laterally and inwardly over the obliquely inclined wall 18 which leads from the bobbin receiving chamber of the shuttle to the base of the recess 10. The other end .of the wire 14.: is secured by means of a screw 19 to the shuttle body at the lower end of this obliquely inclined wall. Tnthe base wall of the recess 10 beneath the portions 17 and 18 of the tension wire, a metal wear plate shown at 20 is preferably secured in order to prevent the thread from working a groove in the base wall of the recess. It will be obvious, however, that the device may also be employed withoutnecessarily providing this wear plate.

21 designates the regulating screw which on one end is provided with a coarse thread shown at 22. This screw is adapted to be threaded into the body of the shuttle in parallel relation to the shuttle eye 11. The other end of said screw is tapered or pointed as at 23, and is adapted to extend across the obliquely inclined wall 18 adjacent the edge of the recess 10 and beneath the inwardly extending end portion of the tension wire 1e. This pointed end of the regulating screw is adapted to engage in a recess or socket 241- in the body of the shuttle when the same is threaded inwardly.

Having above described the several structural features of my invention, its operation will be understood as follows: A screwdriver is applied to the outer end of the regulating screw 21, and said screw driven inwardly. In this movement of the screw, the tapering end thereof bears against the/obliquely inclined end portion of the wire 14 and raises the arm 17 of the loop and the reversely bent portion 18 above the base wall of the recess 10 to dispose the same in spaced relation thereto. The filling thread upon the bobbin which passes through the recess 10 beneath the portions 17 and 18 of the wire and then through the shuttle eye may now move easily and freely through the shuttle eye as it is pulled from the cop or bobbin. When, however, the regulating screw is adjusted outwardly in the shuttle body, the portions 17 and 18 of the tensioning wire will spring downwardly by the resilient action of the outer loop arm 16 and exert a pressure upon the thread which passes over the base of the recess to the shuttle eye. This adjustment of the regulating screw may be repeated until the desired tension upon the thread is obtained. By thus regulating the tension upon the filling thread, the formation of kinks therein will be obviated. \Vhen coarse heavy filling is used, the wear plate 20 over which the same moves receives the pressure of the thread and prevents the wearing of a groove in the base wall of the recess 10.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that I have produced a very simply constructed, highly-reliable, and serviceable tensioning device for thread shuttles. The tension of the resilient thread engaging wire may be' very easily and quickly adjusted when necessary by the application of a screwdriver or other implement to the end of the screw 21. The tension wire 14 may also be readily removed from the shuttle and a wire of heavier gage substituted therefor should the particular grade of filling demand the same. Owing to the extremely simple form of the spring tensioning member, it will be appreciat d that they may be supplied in quantities and at comparatively small cost. The device as a whole is also very durable in actual use, and is not liable to become displaced or readily get out of order.

\Vhile I have above described the preferred form, construction, and arrangement of the several elements employed, it will be understood that the device is, nevertheless, susceptible of considerable modification therein, and I therefore reserve the privilege of resorting to all such legitimate changes as may be fairly embodied within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Wh at is claimed is:

1. The combination with ashuttle body provided with a recess at one end of the bobbin chamber and a shuttle eye mounted in the base of said recess at one side of its center, of a spring wire arranged in said recess contiguous to the shuttle eye and provided with aloop, one arm of which is engaged in the wall of the recess, the other arm of said wire normally bearing upon the base of the recess, said wire being inwardly extended from said latter arm and fixed to the shuttle body, and a regulating screw mounted in the shuttle body and cooperating with the latter end of the wire to elevate said latter arm and adjust the tension of said wire upon the thread.

2. The combination with a shuttle body having a circular recess at one end of the bobbin receiving chamber and a shuttle eye mounted in the base of said recess at one side of its center, of a resilient wire loop arranged in said recess and having one of its arms engaged in the wall thereof, the other arm of said loop being adapted to bear upon the thread adjacent the shuttle eye and hold the same upon the base wall of the recess, said wire being reversely bent from the latter arm and then extended inwardly and fixed at its other end to the shuttle body, and a In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my regulating screw threaded in said body 'at signature in the presence of two witnesse one side of said recess and having a tapered portion cooperating with the latter end of t i Q DAVID CLARK 5 said wire whereby the tension of said loop Witnesses:

and the pressure of the loop arm upon the W. 'P.'SAx,

thread may be regulated. M A. STRATFORD. 

